"Five more minutes, just give me five more minutes, Hermione, and I promise I'll get up!" Ginny mumbled into her pillow. She swatted at the hand that was patting her on the shoulder. The sun had been above the distant horizon for scarcely more than half an hour and Ginny had every intention of sleeping until noon. Last night had held another horrifying dream for her, but somehow, she had been able to push it out of her mind and sleep again. She rolled over and buried her head in her overstuffed pillow. The patting on her back continued, and Ginny gave up. "Fine!" she shouted, throwing her covers back. She rubbed her brown eyes, trying to get the sleep out of them. She pulled her hands away from her bleary eyes and gasped. Hermione was nowhere to be seen, but sitting on her bedpost was a snowy owl. The owl was shifting from one foot to another, impatiently waiting for Ginny to react. "Hedwig," she said softly. It must be a dream! Ginny rubbed her eyes, and when she opened them again, Hedwig wasn't gone like Ginny had expected, but still anxiously sitting on her bed. She wanted to reach her hand out for the letter that was attached to the owl's leg, but she couldn't move. It had been so long since this owl had visited the Burrow, not since Harry was last there. Harry never wrote letters to Ginny, and if he did, he used Pig, the owl Ginny used to send him letters. It couldn't be good that Hedwig was here now...it just didn't make sense that Harry would all of a sudden start sending letters. Maybe he was dying...Ginny shook her head, banishing the depressing thought. It was a good thing that Hedwig was here, she convinced herself. It meant that Harry wanted to talk to her, maybe even come home! Ginny's face brightened as she imagined the letter she was sure to read in moments. Dearest Ginny, I'm so sorry that I've been gone for so long, but I'm coming home, and I'll never leave again. I expect I can be home by tomorrow, after I get cleaned up a bit. With all the love of the world, Harry

Maybe the last part was asking too much, but surely the letter would contain good news! Ginny smiled and reached for the letter. She shrieked, though, when the owl bit her hand. "Hedwig!" Ginny let out, frustrated. Hedwig fluttered onto Ginny's shoulder and gripped it gently with her menacing talons. She began to flap her wings, hard. Ginny shielded her faces from the beating wings and tried to dislodge the owl by running around the room. "Hedwig, you insane owl, what are you doing?" Hedwig screeched and flapped her wings harder.

There was a knock at Ginny's bedroom door, quickly followed by a concerned male voice, "Hey, Gin, are you all right?" Ginny was shocked when she heard Bill's voice so early in the morning. She stopped running and looked quickly out of the window that created a hole in her wall across the room. She guessed by the angle of the sun that it was about six o'clock in the morning. Bill had work; of course he was awake.

"I'm fine!" Ginny called, trying to hush the still-screeching owl on her shoulder.

"Yeah right!" Bill returned. Ginny dove at the door as she heard the handle turn. She didn't want Bill to know that Hedwig was here. She wanted to read the letter, alone, and first, savoring in the moment of joy of Harry coming home. The sudden movement finally shocked Hedwig into flying off of Ginny's shoulder and onto the windowsill. She hooted indignantly once before finally quieting down. Bill opened the door and looked wide-eyed at his sister who was inches from the now open door. He reached out his hands and caught her. "Ginny?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

"I'm absolutely-" Ginny stopped talking abruptly when she saw Bill's eyes stare towards her window.

He hastily let go of Ginny and strode over to the snowy owl. "Hedwig!" he cried happily. He reached out for the letter but jerked his hand away when Hedwig snapped at his index finger. Bill set his jaw and quickly grabbed Hedwig. His large hands trapped the owl against his chest. He grunted as Hedwig struggled to get free. He roughly untied the letter from her leg and let her go. His eyes looked at the name on the outside of the roll of parchment and handed it to Ginny. "Read it," he instructed quietly.

Ginny nodded and mutely opened the letter. Her eyes scanned the short note quickly. This couldn't be right! She read it over again, her brown eyes filled with tears. This was nothing like what she had been expecting.

"What's the matter, Gin?" Bill asked nervously taking a step towards his younger sister.

"Oh, Bill!" she cried. Bill nervously patted her back when he found himself hugging the crying girl.

"What is it?" Bill asked, trying to soothe the girl in his arms. Ginny said nothing, but stepped away from him and handed the note. She watched with red eyes as her brother read the note. His face fell as he read the messy scrawl.

Dear Ginny,

As I have no more use for her, Hedwig is now yours.

Harry

"What does he mean by she's yours?" Bill asked, bewildered. "Did you say something to him?"

"No!" Ginny said, horrified by her brother's unsaid accusations. She looked behind him and saw a flutter of movement. Hedwig was still sitting in her room, moving around anxiously.

"Why did he give you his owl then?" Bill asked, staring at the majestic bird.

"I don't know!" More tears sprang to the young woman's brown eyes.

"Well, Gin, I hate to leave you, but I really have to go to work. Those goblins hate tardiness. Write Harry back and tell him that you won't have Hedwig and that he has to come home." Bill spoke with a resoluteness that left Ginny no room for arguing, even if she had wanted to.

Ginny nodded her head morosely and hugged her brother. Bill left the room, looking back every few steps. Once he was nearly out of sight, he stopped. "Hey, if you want to talk, or just be near me, you're welcome at work, the goblins won't mind." His words were so full of concern Ginny almost couldn't stand it. She nodded her head, holding back even more tears. Bill turned around again and walked out of sight. Once she heard the pop of Bill aparating, Ginny sat at her desk and tried writing a note to Harry.

Dear Harry,

I won't have Hedwig; she's your owl! So just come and get her!

LOVE,

Ginny

Ginny looked at the few words she had written and crumpled the piece of parchment. It just didn't sound right. She sighed and decided that she needed to get out of the house. She slowly got dressed and trucked her wand into a pocket in her robes. She looked at the small table that sat next to her bed. Glinting invitingly on it was a dagger, Harry's dagger. She looked at it for a moment before grabbing it and carefully tucking it into a pocket in her robes. For some reason, she didn't want to leave it behind. She felt safer, closer to him, if she had it with her. She walked slowly down the stairs, doing her best to be quiet, so as not to wake anyone up. The silence was broken not long after she left her room though, by a screech that came from her room. Ginny looked around to see Hedwig fly out of her room. The owl grasped Ginny's robes with her powerful feet and tried to pull the girl towards the door that led to the living room. "Hedwig, I would really rather not use the floo network, I'm taking the Knight Bus," Ginny said, carefully stroking the owl, trying to quiet her. Hedwig abruptly let go of Ginny's robes and flew back to the girl's room. She came back out moments later. She hooted anxiously as she searched for Ginny. She found the girl outside, a few feet from the house. Ginny heard the hooting and turned to see the owl. "Hedwig, you're getting to be a pain," Ginny said. Hedwig ignored the comment and dropped something onto Ginny's head. "Ow! I didn't mean for that to be literal!" Ginny exclaimed when something small and hard hit her on the head. She rubbed her head gently where she could already feel a lump forming. She looked to the ground to see what it was. It was her Quidditch Captain badge. "Hedwig, I don't need to wear this to Diagon Alley!" Ginny growled and ran back inside to replace the badge on her desk. Hedwig followed Ginny and hooted as she landed on a thick envelope. It was the letter from Hogwarts. Ginny ignored the owl and quickly aparated outside. The moment she was outside, Ginny raised her wand hand, not long after that, there was a bang and a purple bus appeared in the front lawn. A few chickens clucked disapprovingly and ran away and a tree jump out of the way as the bus skidded to a halt in front of the red-haired girl. Ginny calmly got onto the bus and rolled her eyes as Hedwig flew out of the house carrying Ron's old prefect badge.

"Pretty owl you have there," an older boy said, smiling. Ginny looked up and returned the smile.

"Thanks, but she's not mine, she's...a friend's."

"Oh, well anyway, where are you heading?"

"Diagon Alley, please," Ginny said, still smiling. Something about the boy just made you smile. Not that Ginny found this to be a bad thing.

"My name's Erik by the way," he said, proffering his hand.

"Ginny," Ginny said, taking the offered hand happily. It was rough and calloused from what Ginny imagined was years of physical labor. Ginny let go of the hand reluctantly and sat down in the front seat so that she could continue talking to this boy, she wanted to talk to a friendly face that didn't keep shooting her worried glances.

"So, do you work in Diagon Alley? I've never seen you on this bus before," Erik said, looking at Ginny curiously.

"Oh, no, I just wanted to walk around a bit, maybe get some books," Ginny said shrugging.

"Would you mind some company?" Erik asked his ears turning an insipid shade of red.

"Are you going to be providing it?" Ginny asked playfully.

"Well...I mean...if you don't..." the boy started to stutter, his ears turning a more colorful hue of crimson.

"I'd like it very much," Ginny interrupted. Eric smiled gratefully and they fell into an easy conversation.

"Diagon Alley's the next stop," Erik said, looking out the windows to get his bearings. "We'll have to stop a minute in the pub while Sean takes my place." There was a loud bang and for the first time since she got onto the bus, Ginny was surprised by the lurch the bus gave as it changed location from a suburb Ginny was unfamiliar with to the streets of London near The Leaky Cauldron. Ginny toppled off of her seat and fell uncomfortably close to Erik. She blushed and quickly righted herself. Erik smiled encouragingly and led her off of the bus when it stopped in front of the small pub. He called a farewell to the driver and walked into the pub.

"Sean!" Erik called once they were inside. A young man, who looked to be a year or two older than Erik waved in greeting. He didn't say anything but walked outside and soon after, there was a bang as the Knight Bus left the area.

"Do you want a drink?" Erik offered.

"Oh no! It's...It's too early!" Ginny said. She didn't bother mentioning that not only was she too young but that her mother would have Ginny's head if she were ever to find out that her only daughter had so much as held a glass of firewhisky. The fact that Ginny was going to wander Diagon Alley with a complete stranger, who happened to be rather good looking, did not help Ginny's case.

"Okay, so where do you want to go?" Erik asked. He ran his hand through his brown hair.

"I don't know, let's just walk around," Ginny suggested, shrugging her shoulders. The pair walked through the pub and to the small garden in the back. His robe sleeve started to fall down his arm when he raised his left hand to tap a brick with his wand. He quickly pulled it so that it nearly covered his hand. He anxiously glanced over to Ginny to see if she had seen anything, but he breathed a sigh of relief when Ginny turned her head and smiled innocently at him. They happily walked through the archway that had appeared and walked down the street. It was still early, about eight o'clock and most of the shops either weren't open yet or were just opening. Ginny walked towards a fountain all the while talking with Erik. Once they reached the fountain. Ginny sat down on the edge and invited Erik to join her. They sat and talked, enjoying each other's company for a few minutes before the subject turned to The Battle.

"Did you read The Prophet yesterday morning?" Erik asked tactfully. Ginny nodded her head, wondering where the conversation was going. "So how about Potter's disappearance." Ginny didn't need to ask what Potter he was talking about. She paled slightly at the name, but answered the man's question without a tremor in her voice.

"Yeah, I read about that. I wonder where he is?"

"I hear he's dead!" Erik said, an indefinable look crossing his strong face.

"Oh, I don't think he's dead," Ginny said carefully.

"Maybe he ran away with his girlfriend! The Prophet mentioned her. What was her name? Gina?"

"He couldn't have done that!" Ginny said, laughing to herself the crazy rumors that were flying around.

"How do you know?" Erik challenged.

"A friend of a friend of mine knows Harry Potter," Ginny said. She didn't want people knowing that she was...is his girlfriend. She already got the pitying looks from friends and family; she didn't want them from strangers too.

"Oh," Erik said. "Do you think the Dark Lord is coming back?"

"No, Voldemort's dead," Ginny said matter-of-factly, suppressing a shudder as she remembered seeing the monster's bloody figure. Erik jerked when he heard Ginny say his name out loud, causing Ginny to roll her eyes.

"Erik!" The two people looked up at a voice that was familiar to both of them.

"Angelina!" Ginny called out happily. She waved her brother's girlfriend over.

Angelina ran over to the pair. "Ginny, your brothers are looking for you, they're in their shop," Angelina said to Ginny. Once Ginny ran across the quickly filling street into the shop marked "Weasely Wizarding Wheezes," Angelina turned to the boy that was a year younger than her. "Eric what are you doing here? I thought you had work today!"

"I just got off and I have another shift later," Eric said simply. He shrugged his broad shoulders and looked across the street to an unknown destination, his green eyes twinkling.

"What were you doing with Ginny?" Angelina asked, her brown eyes narrowing.

"She rode the Knight Bus here, and I asked her if she wanted to hang out." Eric looked to Angelina, confused. He stood up so that he could look Angelina in the eye. "Is that a problem?" His voice wasn't accusing, but Angelina couldn't help but feel that he was challenging her.

"She's a Weasely."

"I know, so is Fred." Erik's voice was cool. "If you can date a Weasely, I don't see why I can't hang out with one. Do you?" Erik looked into Angelina's eyes. He held her chin in his hand so that she couldn't turn away. His eyes pierced hers and Angelina found herself shifting her gaze.

"Well, no..."

"Angelina, come here!' She turned around when she heard Fred's voice.

"Coming!" Without a word to Erik, she ran across the now busy street. When she got inside the store, she was greeted by a big hug. She giggled and kissed Fred gently on his cheek.

"Oh quit it, you two!" Ginny said disgustedly.

"You okay now, Gin?" George asked, continuing his conversation with Ginny from before their interruption. "Bill had said you sounded really upset this morning." She had just told the twins about her strange morning. She hadn't been planning on it, but since Bill had taken it upon himself to tell the twins about Hedwig, she had to relate her side of the story.

"Yeah, I'm okay...now." Ginny sighed as she remembered the snowy owl chasing the Knight Bus before it disappeared.

"What do you think Hedwig wanted?" Fred asked, his arms sill wrapped around Angelina's waist.

"I don't know!" Ginny said. I came here just to think and be alone in a crowd, not to be questioned to the third-degree by my brothers!"

"It's okay, Ginny," Angelina said, reluctantly breaking away from Fred's embrace. She gave Ginny a big hug.

"Maybe she wanted you to go to Hogwarts," George said slowly.

"Why? I'm not due back until September first!" Ginny said.

"Well, why else would she drop all that Hogwarts stuff on you?"

"Fred, I don't really care!"

"Ginny, think about it," Fred said carefully. "Hedwig was Harry's owl, so-"

"Fred!" Ginny cried, interrupting her brother. She let out an anguished sound. She did her best to bite back the rush of tears that threatened to overwhelm her at Harry's name. The fact that Fred had said that Hedwig was Harry's didn't help either. She rushed out of the store, hoping that no one would follow her.

"Ginny!" Ginny ignored Angelina's call and kept running. Ginny turned into a dark alleyway and stopped. She put her hands on her knees and breathed heavily. She collapsed to the ground sighing deeply. "Ginny!" Ginny turned to look at her friend with bright eyes. "Oh Ginny!" Angelina rushed over to her friend and embraced her. The two girls sat, hugging each other for quite a while before Ginny collected herself.

"I'm sorry Angelina, It's just...I wonder if Harry's ever coming back..." Ginny said quietly.

"It's okay, Gin, he'll be back," Angelina said reassuringly.

"Are you sure?" Ginny asked, allowing a hint of hope to enter her frail voice.

"Positive. Now let's get some ice cream," Angelina stood up and offered her hand to help Ginny up. Ginny took it and stood up. The younger girl ran her fingers through her hair and wiped at her eyes.

"Tell me the truth. Do I look horrible?" Ginny asked, smiling slightly.

"Yes," Angelina said, laughing at Ginny's knotted hair and tear stained face.

"Okay, just as long as I know," Ginny said, joining Angelina in a sad laugh. The two girls linked arms and headed to the local ice cream shop. They sat outside, enjoying the warm summer day. Angelina finished her dish of ice cream and pushed back her stool.

"Well, Ginny, I hate to leave, but Fred's probably waiting for me to get back to work." Angelina rooted in her pockets and placed a handful of galleons. "Ice cream is on me!"

"Okay, bye!" Ginny smiled, much happier than she had been before. The two friends shared a happy wave farewell. Angelina walked back to the joke shop, which was only a few doors down from Florean's Ice Cream.

Ginny reached into her pocket and pulled out the glinting dagger. She turned it over in her hands, watching the light play off of the gems that were inset in the handle. Ginny closed her eyes and let her mind wander to Harry.

Harry walked around a corner, hugging the stone wall with his back. The walls were familiar to Ginny, but she couldn't place where they belonged. She heard a couple of voices talking and laughing. Harry tensed and ducked into a room behind him.

Ginny jerked and opened her eyes. Well, at least Harry was alive in that dream. She blinked her eyes sleepily. She pushed her head off of the table it had been resting on. I must be more tired than I thought, Ginny thought, rubbing her eyes. Seeing the dagger sitting on the table, Ginny gasped quietly and pocketed it quickly. It wouldn't look good if she was found walking around with a dagger, especially this soon after The Battle. She waved the waitress over and ordered another sundae. When it came, she ate it slowly, enjoying the hot fudge mixed with the cold strawberry ice cream. She was about halfway finished when a shadow fell over her table. She looked up hopefully. When it wasn't who she expected, Ginny's heart sank a notch or two, but she smiled brightly, at least this was a face should recognized. "Dean! Join me, would you?" The young man obliged and sat down across from Ginny.

"So, what have you been up to for the past two weeks?" Dean asked, taking the spoon Ginny was offering him.

"Oh..." Ginny was speechless.

Dean immediately saw what he had done wrong. He reached across the table and took her shaking hands between his own. "I'm sorry."

Ginny looked at Dean in his deep brown eyes. She took a deep breath before opening her mouth to speak. "Dean, can I talk to you?" Ginny asked, her voice shaking vaguely.

"Surely." Dean moved his chair around to the other side of the table so that he was sitting next to Ginny.

"It's Harry...He gave me his owl. He said he wouldn't need her again..." Tears brimmed in Ginny's light brown eyes. Dean took her into his strong arms and held her while she continued. "What if he's never coming back? What if he's dead?" Ginny asked fearfully. A few tears escaped her eyes and traced down her pale cheek.

"Give him time, he'll come home! After all, how could he stay away from your pretty face?" Dean touched her cheek gently. Ginny closed her eyes, sighed, and leaned her head against his shoulder. He pulled his robe sleeve over his hand and carefully wiped her tears with his sleeve. "Let's go sit somewhere else," Dean suggested. Ginny nodded her head silently.

Dean stood up and took Ginny's had. He led her over to the fountain that Ginny had sat at earlier that day. He sat on the ground and gently pulled her down to sit next to him. She leaned against him and closed her eyes. The sun beat gently on the pair as Ginny's breathing began to slow as she fell asleep.

Across the street, three people watched as Dean stroked Ginny's hair methodically. "What is he doing?" George asked angrily.

"Doesn't he know that Harry's her boyfriend?" Fred continued, seething.

"Guys, let Ginny be hugged by a guy for once," Angelina said, look fondly at the couple across the street.

"We hug her!"

"Every night!"

"No, I mean by a guy that's not family!" Angelina said exasperatedly.

"But Algae, Ginny..." Fred began. He stopped however when Angelina gave him a pleading look.

"Fred, hold strong, mate!" George said, shaking his brother.

"Oh, George, let Ginny have a moment!" Fred said.

"Good boy!" Angelina said, laughing, while she patted him on the top of his head. She smiled and kissed Fred on the cheek. Fred grinned and took Angelina into his arms. He wrapped a strand of her hair around his index finger and let it go. She smiled and leaned into his chest.

"Oh, you two disgust me!" George exclaimed. Fred chuckled and kissed Angelina passionately. George hurried into the stockroom, grateful for the chance to get away from Fred and Angelina, or as Fred called her, Algae.

A few seconds later, Fred pushed the curtain that blocked the stockroom aside and entered, blushing slightly. "Sorry, mate," Fred said. "But I really do think that Ginny deserves a few minutes alone with some guy. Someone who won't run away, leaving her alone and heartbroken," he spoke the last words bitterly. "She seemed so happy with Dean. Harry's disappearance has been horrible for her, give her time."

"Okay, I guess I see what you're saying. But don't be so rough on Harry, he's had a lot to deal with." George said, deciding to go with the flow.

"Fred, George! Get out here and change me back to normal...NOW!" Fred and George looked at each other at Angelina's call. They smirked and walked out of the stockroom to find Angelina covered in yellow feathers.

"So, you found the Canary Creams?" George asked, allowing a smile to rule over his face.

"Fred, change me back!" Angelina simpered. George reached out and stopped Fred from giving Angelina the antidote.

"No, no, no Fred, bad boy," George smiled teasingly.

"George, why must you keep those things lying around for customers to eat?" Angelina asked exasperatedly.

"Because it's fun to watch them sprout feathers!" George replied. "Besides, it's not just me, you realize? Fred's the one who suggested we put out Canary Creams instead of normal food!"

"George, come on! Change me back!" Angelina pleaded.

"Oh, fine!" George said, laughing. He lazily flicked his was and Angelina's feathers slowly melted together leaving her smooth chocolate skin behind. The trio spent the rest of their day happily playing jokes on each other, every now and hen selling product to a customer with yellow feathers. Ginny and Dean were quickly banished from their minds.

AN: I am very sorry it took me so long to get this chapter out there. I had it all typed up, but before I could edit it, my computer died. So then I had to edit it, retype it, edit it again...and now it's now... Well I hope you enjoyed it! Claps It was my longest one yet (and while I was rewriting it...it grew by a page and a half! (just a fast fact you all wanted to know))

Response to Reviews: Wow, I love each and every one of you.

To those who reviewed chapters previous to chapter seven, thank you very much, I do pay attention to you too; I just don't have space to reply to you guys individually. If you have a pressing question or a suggestion that needs attention, that you would like a reply to, just put an asterisk () next to it, and I will be sure to reply. (Honest, I read them no matter what though)

The Female Nerd- CoNgRaTs! yOu ArE tHe 60th ReViEwEr! Thank you and to all those who made this wonderful moment possible. thanks for reading!

Ketta dragontamer- well...you'll find out if Harry or Giolla is dead soon, very soon.

LaxGoalie- how was it confusing? I can clarify things, if you tell me what needs to be clarified.

Phyre's child13- I'm glad you got your cookie :) and I'm also very glad you liked my chapter! sorry it took so long to update

LOTZAstuffINmyHead- sorry it took so long! I'm glad you thought it was good!

Sexi Silver- CONGRATS! YOU ARE THE FIRST REVIEWER TO CHAPTER 7! it was definitely a hallmark moment:) I hope this wasn't too long for you. I'm glad you could see how lonely Harry was getting! and I'm glad you liked the chapter!